The portrait in right profile of Elizabeth II, when she was 64 years old, is surrounded with the facial value and the inscription "ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA" (Elizabeth II, Queen by the grace of God) Lettering: 25 CENTS ELIZABETH II D • G • REGINA

Obverse Designer:

Dora De Pédery-Hunt

Reverse Design:

Mixed

Reverse Designer:

1999-2000 - Elizabeth II - Millennium Quarter

In April 1998, the Mint announced the Millennium Coin Design Contest, a contest open to all Canadians to submit designs for twenty-four millennium quarters, one for each month of 1999 and 2000. The 1999 designs were meant to look back on Canada's past, while the 2000 designs looked to the future. While the 1999 coins were labeled with their month of issue, the 2000 coins were labeled with the relevant theme (see below).

To celebrate the new millennium, Canada created a two year circulating commemorative program that would be conducted in two parts (one in 1999 and one in 2000). Each program released 12 quarters per year ( 1 per month) and each featured a unique design.

The 1999 plan featured designs representative of Canada's past. In an open design contest called “Create a Centsation” over 33,000 designs were submitted for consideration.

The 2000 plan featured designs representative of Canada's dreams for a new millennium. A second design contest was held and over 66,000 designs were submitted for consideration.